CN220473858U - Developing box - Google Patents

Abstract

The present utility model provides a developing cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus provided with a detecting member, the developing cartridge comprising: a driving mechanism for receiving a driving force from the image forming apparatus; a counting assembly for receiving the driving force from the driving mechanism and interacting with the detecting member to realize detection of the developing cartridge by the image forming apparatus; the developing box is provided with a first end cover which is used for protecting and fixing the counting assembly, and the first end cover covers at least one part of the counting assembly; compared with the mode of fixing the counting assembly by using the screws, the mode of fixing the end cover is more convenient, and therefore the production efficiency of the developing box is improved.

Description

Developing box

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to the field of electrophotographic imaging, and more particularly to a developing cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic imaging process.

Background

The developing cartridge is a cartridge detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier, and is provided therein with a developing roller rotatable about an axis, in which developer is accommodated, for supplying the developer to a photosensitive drum provided outside the developing cartridge to develop an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

The image forming apparatus is generally provided with a detecting member, and accordingly, the developing cartridge is generally provided with a counting assembly as a detected member, which interacts with the detecting member when the developing cartridge is first mounted to the image forming apparatus, so that the image forming apparatus obtains information of the service life, model, etc. of the developing cartridge; however, there is still room for technical improvement in the above-described counting assembly.

Disclosure of Invention

A first object of the present utility model is to provide a developing cartridge provided with a counting assembly for interacting with a detecting member in an image forming apparatus, the counting assembly being provided with a counting operation member provided as a flexible cover, the counting assembly being related to the present utility model having a simple structure.

A second object of the present utility model is to provide a developing cartridge provided with a first end cap for protecting and fixing a driving mechanism and a counting assembly.

Compared with the mode of fixing the counting assembly by using the screws, the mode of fixing the end cover is more convenient, and therefore the production efficiency of the developing box is improved.

The technical scheme adopted by the utility model is as follows:

the present utility model provides a developing cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus provided with a detecting member, the developing cartridge comprising: a driving mechanism for receiving a driving force from the image forming apparatus; a counting assembly for receiving the driving force from the driving mechanism and interacting with the detecting member to realize detection of the developing cartridge by the image forming apparatus; the developing cartridge is provided with a first end cap for protecting and fixing the counting assembly, and the first end cap covers at least a portion of the counting assembly. The developing box comprises a shell, a first end cover is detachably connected with the shell, a limiting part is arranged on the first end cover and used for preventing the counting assembly from falling off the developing box, and at least one part of the limiting part protrudes from the first end cover towards the side where the shell is located.

Further, the counting assembly includes a counting gear for receiving the driving force from the driving mechanism, and a counting acting member for interacting with the detecting member, projecting in the developing cartridge length direction, at least a part of the projection area of the stopper overlapping with the projection area of the counting gear. The first end cover is provided with a first opening, at least one part of the counting action piece and the counting gear is exposed from the first opening, the limiting part protrudes along the circumferential direction of the first opening, and the limiting part is arranged to be an arc-shaped protrusion. In other embodiments, the limiting portion includes a plurality of protrusions disposed at intervals. Further, the limiting part is positioned on the counting gear at the radial outer side of the counting action piece.

Further, a counting positioning part, a spacing part, a tooth part and a tooth missing part are sequentially arranged along the circumferential outer edge of the counting gear, in the counting process, the counting positioning part is used for positioning the counting initial position of the counting gear, the counting positioning part is formed by protruding radially from the circumferential outer edge of the counting gear, the tooth part is used for receiving driving force, the tooth missing part is used for disconnecting the driving force, and the spacing part is positioned between the counting positioning part and the tooth part.

In the counting process, the counting and positioning part receives the driving force and rotates by a first angle, and before the tooth part receives the driving force, the counting gear rotates by a second angle through the interval part, and the second angle is larger than the first angle.

In some embodiments, the contact surface of the limiting part and the counting assembly is a smooth surface.

In some embodiments, the limit portion is provided as an elastic member.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an overall view of a developing cartridge according to the present utility model.

Fig. 2A is an exploded view of a part of components of the developing cartridge according to the present utility model.

Fig. 2B is a perspective view of the drive mechanism and the counting assembly according to the present utility model mounted on the developing cartridge.

Fig. 3A is a schematic view of the counter gear according to the present utility model when the counter positioning portion is opposed to the second gear.

Fig. 3B is a schematic view of the trigger member and the triggered member according to the present utility model.

Fig. 3C is a schematic view of the counter gear according to the present utility model when the tooth portion of the counter gear meshes with the second gear.

Fig. 3D is a schematic view of the counter gear according to the present utility model when the missing tooth portion is opposite to the second gear.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of a first end cap according to the present utility model.

Fig. 4B is a partial sectional view of the developing cartridge according to the present utility model taken through a plane passing through the rotation axis of the counter gear and perpendicular to the up-down direction.

Detailed Description

The present utility model will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an overall view of a developing cartridge according to the present utility model; fig. 2A is an exploded view of a part of components of the developing cartridge according to the present utility model.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the present utility model provides a developing cartridge 100 detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge 100 including a housing 10 and a developing roller 20, a powder feeding roller 30, and a stirring frame 40 rotatably provided in the housing 10, the housing 10 including a cover 101 and a cartridge 102 coupled to each other, a handle 103 being provided on the cover 101 or the cartridge 102 for facilitating an operator to hold the developing cartridge 100 to insert or remove it from the image forming apparatus. The developing cartridge 100 accommodates therein a developer, the developing roller 20 for supplying the developer to a photosensitive drum provided outside the developing cartridge 100 to develop an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, the powder feeding roller 30 in contact with the developing roller 20 and for supplying the developer to the developing roller 20, and the stirring frame for stirring the developer accommodated in the casing 10 to prevent caking thereof.

Further, the developing cartridge 100 includes two sidewalls disposed at opposite intervals along a length direction of the developing cartridge, the developing cartridge 100 is further provided with a driving mechanism 50 and a counting assembly 60, at least a portion of the driving mechanism 50 and at least a portion of the counting assembly 60 are disposed on either sidewall, and the counting assembly 60 is disposed at a longitudinal end of the casing 10. The driving mechanism 50 is used for receiving driving force from the imaging device and driving the developing roller 20, the powder feeding roller 30 and the stirring frame 40 to rotate, the driving mechanism 50 comprises a counting driving piece, the counting driving piece is used for driving the counting assembly 60 to interact with a detection component arranged in the imaging device, so that the imaging device obtains information of service life, model and the like of the developing box, and in order to improve the efficiency of the detection process, the driving mechanism 50 and the counting assembly 60 are arranged on the same side, and the side wall of the side where the driving mechanism and the counting assembly are is called as a first side wall 11. In other embodiments, the counter assembly 60 may be disposed on a different side than the drive mechanism 50, i.e., one of the counter assembly 60 and the drive mechanism 50 is disposed on the first side wall 11 and the other is disposed on the opposite side of the first side wall 11.

For a better description of the utility model, the following definitions are set forth for the orientations that the present description needs to refer to: as shown in fig. 1, the longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge 100 is the left-right direction, wherein the side on which the driving mechanism 50 is located is the left side, and the side opposite to the side on which the driving mechanism 50 is located is the right side; the direction in which the cover 101 and the case 102 are combined with each other is an up-down direction, wherein the side on which the cover 101 is located is an upper side, and the side opposite to the side on which the cover 101 is located is a lower side, and the up-down direction intersects with the left-right direction, preferably the up-down direction is perpendicular to the left-right direction; the direction intersecting both the left-right direction and the up-down direction is a front-back direction, and preferably the front-back direction is perpendicular to the left-right direction and the up-down direction, wherein the side on which the handle 103 is located is the rear side and the side opposite to the side on which the handle 103 is located is the front side.

Fig. 2B is a perspective view of the drive mechanism and the counting assembly according to the present utility model mounted on the developing cartridge.

Further, as shown in fig. 2A and 2B, the driving mechanism 50 includes a driving member 51, a developing roller gear 52, a powder feeding roller gear 53, an idler gear 54, and a stirring frame gear 55, the driving member 51 includes a driving force receiving portion 511 for receiving a driving force from the image forming apparatus, and a driving gear portion 512 for transmitting the driving force; the developing roller gear 52 is used for driving the developing roller 20 to rotate, the powder feeding roller gear 53 is used for driving the powder feeding roller 53 to rotate, the stirring frame gear 55 is used for driving the stirring frame 40 to rotate, and the idler gear 54 is arranged between the driving member 51 and the stirring frame gear 55 and is used for transmitting the driving force of the driving gear part 512 to the stirring frame gear 55.

Specifically, the drive gear portion 512 of the drive member 51 is engaged with the developing roller gear 52, the powder feeding roller gear 53, and the idler gear 54, respectively. At least a portion of the idler gear 54 overlaps the agitator frame gear 55, and at least a portion of the counter assembly 60 overlaps the agitator frame gear 55, as viewed in the left-right direction, which enables the first side wall to be reduced in size in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction. To further reduce the size of the developing cartridge 100 in the front-rear direction, the agitator gear 55 includes a first gear 551 and a second gear 552 arranged in the left-right direction, the first gear 551 meshing with the idler gear 54, and the second gear 552 for meshing with a tooth portion 612 of the counter gear 61 described below.

Fig. 3A is a schematic view of the counter gear according to the present utility model when the counter positioning portion is opposite to the second gear; FIG. 3B is a schematic illustration of the trigger member of the present utility model in contact with a triggered member; FIG. 3C is a schematic view of the tooth portion of the counter gear of the present utility model engaged with a second gear; fig. 3D is a schematic view of the counter gear according to the present utility model when the missing tooth portion is opposite to the second gear.

Further, as shown in fig. 2B and 3A, the counting assembly 60 includes a counting gear 61 and a counting action member 62 connected to each other, and the counting gear 61 is configured to receive a driving force from the counting driving member to drive the counting action member 62 to interact with the detecting member. The counter gear 61 is a disk-shaped rotating body, and the counter effector 62 is provided on the counter gear 61 and extends from the counter gear 61 in a direction away from the first side wall 11. The counter gear 61 includes a tooth portion 611, a missing tooth portion 612, a counter positioning portion 613, and a spacing portion 615, which are sequentially provided along the circumferential outer edge thereof, that is, the spacing portion 615 is located between the counter positioning portion 6613 and the tooth portion 611. Specifically, a count positioning portion 613 is formed to protrude radially from the circumferential outer edge of the count gear 61, and the count positioning portion 613 may be provided as a single tooth for meshing with the second gear 552, thereby positioning the count initial position of the count gear 61 with respect to the detecting member (as shown in fig. 3A). The tooth portion 611 is for meshing with the second gear 552 to receive a driving force, and the tooth missing portion 612 is for opposing the second gear 552 to cut off the transmission of the driving force between the second gear 552 and the counter gear 61; as shown in fig. 3D, after the counting assembly 60 is completed, the missing tooth portion 612 is opposite to the second gear 552 of the stirring rack gear 55 to prevent the counting gear 60 from continuing to rotate.

Further, the counting action member 62 is fixedly connected with the counting gear 61 for contacting with a detecting member in the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus can judge the product information (such as model, service life, etc.) of the developing cartridge 100 by recording the contact time, contact frequency, etc. of the detecting member with the counting action member 62. The counting operation member 62 has elasticity, that is, the counting operation member 62 is provided as an elastic body, for example, the counting operation member 62 is provided as a flexible rubber sleeve, and during the process of loading the developing cartridge 100 into the image forming apparatus, the counting operation member 62 is elastically deformed, for example, the counting operation member 62 is compressed, so that the loading step can not be completed due to the interference of the counting operation member 62, and the elastic body type counting operation member 62 is easy to obtain materials, has a simple structure, and is also more easily mounted on the developing cartridge compared with the conventional counting operation member which is telescopic by using the ascending and descending rails.

As shown in fig. 3B, the first gear 551 is provided with a trigger 553, and in other embodiments, the trigger 553 may be provided on the second gear 552. The counting gear 61 is provided with a triggered piece 614, the triggered piece 553 is fixedly connected with the first gear 551 and is used for touching the triggered piece 614 in the rotating process, so as to trigger the counting gear 61 to rotate to a position where the tooth portion 611 is meshed with the second gear 552 (as shown in fig. 3C), so that the counting gear 61 can continue to rotate to a position where the tooth portion 611 is disengaged from the second gear 552, so that the stirring rack gear 55 can be said to be used as a counting driving piece to drive the counting assembly 60, and in other embodiments, the idle gear 512 or the driving gear 512 can be said to be used as a counting driving piece to drive the counting assembly 60 to work.

When the counting gear 61 is in the initial state, the counting positioning part 613 is opposite to the second gear 552, and the counting gear 61 rotates for the first time under the driving of the second gear 552, and then the counting positioning part 613 stops rotating after rotating for the first angle, so that the time delay function of the counting assembly 60 can be realized by rotating the design. The angle corresponding to the interval portion 615 of the counter gear 61 is a second angle, which is larger than the first angle in order to ensure a delay process before the tooth portion 611 is engaged with the second gear 552, in other words, the counter gear 61 is rotated by the interval portion 615 by a second angle, which is larger than the first angle, before the tooth portion 611 is engaged with the second gear 553 during the counting process.

In the process of rotating the counter gear 61 from the position where the counter positioning portion 613 is opposite to the second gear 552 to the position where the tooth portion 611 is just separated from the second gear 552, it is necessary to perform the detection operation by the counter acting member 62 interacting with the detection element in the image forming apparatus. As shown in fig. 3D, when the missing tooth portion 612 is just opposite to the second gear 552, the counter gear 61 stops rotating, and the counter acting piece 62 also stops interacting with the detecting member, and at this time, the triggered piece 614 also rotates to a position that no longer interferes with the trigger piece 553. If the cartridge 100 is to be re-inspected, the user may toggle the counter 62 to return the counter assembly 60 to the original state.

Fig. 3A-3D present the process of counting assembly 60 from an initial state to counting completion. As shown, the agitator rack gear 55 rotates in the R1 direction, and the counter gear 61 rotates in the R2 direction; as shown in fig. 3A, initially, the counting and positioning portion 613 is opposite to the second gear 552 to position the counting initial position of the counting gear 61, the trigger member 553 is located downstream of the triggered member 614 along the R1 direction, and when the second gear 552 rotates along the R1 direction, the counting gear 61 is pushed to rotate for the first time from the counting and positioning portion 613, and then the counting gear 61 rotates for the first angle, and since the second angle corresponding to the spacing portion 615 is larger than the first angle, the spacing portion 615 is opposite to the second gear 552, and the counting gear 61 stops rotating. When the first gear 551 drives the trigger piece 553 to rotate to the upstream of the triggered piece 614 and just touches the triggered piece 614, the counting gear 61 rotates for the second time under the triggering of the trigger piece 553; as shown in fig. 3C, when the tooth 611 is engaged with the second gear 552, the counting gear 61 rotates in the R2 direction under the drive of the second gear 552; as shown in fig. 3D, the counting gear 61 stops rotating when rotating to a position where the tooth missing portion 612 is just opposite to the second gear 552, and the counting assembly 60 completes one counting operation.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a first end cap according to the present utility model; fig. 4B is a partial sectional view of the developing cartridge according to the present utility model taken through a plane passing through the rotation axis of the counter gear and perpendicular to the up-down direction.

To protect and secure the drive mechanism 50 and the counter assembly 60, as shown in fig. 2A and 4A, the developing cartridge 100 is further provided with a first end cap 12, the first end cap 12 covering at least a portion of the drive mechanism 50 and at least a portion of the counter assembly 60, the first end cap 12 covering at least a portion of the counter assembly 60 when the drive mechanism 50 and the counter assembly 60 are located on different sides of the developing cartridge 100. Further, the counting function 62 of the counting assembly 60 is exposed from the first end cap 12, and the counting function 62 can still rotate following the counting gear 61 after the first end cap 12 is mounted to the developing cartridge 100. Specifically, the first end cover 12 has a first opening 121, a part of the counting action member 62 and the counting gear 61 is exposed from the first opening 121, the first end cover 12 is further provided with a first positioning portion 122 for holding the counting action member 62 at the initial counting position, the first positioning portion 122 is disposed along an inner wall or an opening edge of the first opening 121, and projected in the longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge 100, and at least a part of a projection area of the first positioning portion 122 overlaps with a projection area of the first opening 121.

As shown in fig. 4A, the first end cover 12 is further provided with a stopper 123 for preventing the counter assembly 60 from falling off, and at least a part of the stopper 123 is formed to protrude from the first end cover 12 toward the side of the first sidewall 11. Further, a limiting portion 123 is formed protruding in the circumferential direction of the first opening 121, and the limiting portion 123 is provided as an arc-shaped protrusion; or the limiting part 123 includes a plurality of protrusions arranged at intervals, and the plurality of protrusions are symmetrically arranged, so that the limiting part 123 more stably fixes the counting assembly 60 in a symmetrical orientation. Projected in a direction in which the rotation axis of the counter gear 61 extends, at least a part of the projection area of the stopper 123 overlaps with the projection area of the counter gear 61.

As shown in fig. 4B, when the first end cap 12 is mounted on the developing cartridge 100, the limiting portion 123 is disposed in the radial direction of the counter gear 61, preferably, the limiting portion 123 is located radially outside the counter acting member 62, which simplifies the structure of the first end cap 12, prevents the counter acting member 62 from interfering with the limiting portion 123 when rotating with the counter gear 61, and makes the limiting portion 123 closer to the circumferential outer edge of the counter gear 61 than the counter acting member 62, thereby facilitating the stable fixing of the counter assembly 60 as a whole on the developing cartridge 100. In order to reduce the friction between the limiting portion 123 and the counter gear 61, the contact surface of the limiting portion 123 and the counter gear 61 is provided as a smooth surface.

Further, the limiting portion 123 may be provided as an elastic member to prevent the limiting portion 123 from being unable to effectively limit the counter gear 61 due to manufacturing errors. The first end cap 12 is detachably mounted on the side of the first sidewall 11, and the mounting manner includes, but is not limited to, a detachable mounting manner commonly used in the prior art, such as a clamping connection, a plugging connection, a bolt connection, a magnetic connection, a sticking connection, and the like.

A first object of the present utility model is to provide a developing cartridge provided with a counting assembly for interacting with a detecting member in an image forming apparatus, the counting assembly being provided with a counting operation member provided as a flexible cover, the counting assembly being related to the present utility model having a simple structure.

A second object of the present utility model is to provide a developing cartridge provided with a first end cap for protecting and fixing a driving mechanism and a counting assembly. Compared with the mode of fixing the counting gear by using the screw, the mode of fixing the end cover is more convenient, and the production efficiency of the developing box is improved.

The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical solution of the present utility model, and are not limited thereto. It should be noted that modifications to the embodiments described above, or equivalents of some of the features, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles of the present utility model; such modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit of the technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present utility model.

Claims (10)

1. A developing cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus provided with a detecting member, said developing cartridge comprising:

a driving mechanism for receiving a driving force from the image forming apparatus;

a counting assembly for receiving the driving force from the driving mechanism and interacting with the detecting member to realize detection of the developing cartridge by the image forming apparatus;

the developing cartridge is characterized in that a first end cover is arranged on the developing cartridge and used for protecting and fixing the counting assembly, and the first end cover covers at least one part of the counting assembly.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developing cartridge includes a housing, the first end cap is detachably connected to the housing, a stopper portion is provided on the first end cap, the stopper portion is for preventing the counting assembly from coming off the developing cartridge, and at least a part of the stopper portion is formed protruding from the first end cap toward a side where the housing is located.

3. A developing cartridge according to claim 2, wherein said counting assembly includes a counting gear for receiving the driving force from the driving mechanism, and a counting acting member for interacting with the detecting member, projecting in a longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge, at least a part of the projection area of the stopper overlapping with the projection area of the counting gear.

4. A developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein a first opening is provided in the first end cap, at least a portion of said counting member and said counting gear are exposed from the first opening, said stopper portion protrudes in a circumferential direction of the first opening, and the stopper portion is provided as an arc-like protrusion.

5. A developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein said stopper portion includes a plurality of protrusions provided at intervals.

6. A developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the stopper portion is located radially outward of the counting operation member on the counting gear.

7. A developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein a count positioning portion for positioning a count initial position of the count gear, and a count positioning portion radially protruding from a circumferential outer edge of the count gear, a spacer portion for receiving the driving force, a tooth portion for interrupting the driving force, and a tooth missing portion between the count positioning portion and the tooth portion are provided in this order along the circumferential outer edge of the count gear.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the count positioning portion receives the driving force to rotate by a first angle during the counting process, and the count gear is rotated by a second angle greater than the first angle by the spacer portion before the tooth portion receives the driving force.

9. A developing cartridge according to any one of claims 2-8, wherein a contact surface of said stopper portion with the counting assembly is provided as a smooth surface.

10. A developing cartridge according to any one of claims 2-8, wherein said stopper portion is provided as an elastic member.